Apparatus and method for switching navigation mode between vehicle navigation mode and personal navigation mode in navigation device

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device supporting vehicle navigation and personal navigation. Switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is performed according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder, whether a GPS speed provided by a GPS receiver is higher than a predetermined speed, and whether a step is detected using an output of an accelerometer. Since mode switching between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode is automatically performed, a user does not need to manually perform mode switching.

1 . An apparatus for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a personal navigation algorithm for implementing a personal navigation mode;    a vehicle navigation algorithm for implementing a vehicle navigation mode;    an external device interface for connecting the navigation device and an external device; and    a navigation algorithm controller for switching the navigation mode between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder through the external device interface.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the navigation algorithm controller determines whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder by checking if a button of the navigation device for sensing mounting of the navigation device is depressed.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the navigation algorithm controller determines whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder by checking if a message indicating mounting of the navigation device is received from the navigation device holder.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a personal navigation algorithm for implementing a personal navigation mode;    a vehicle navigation algorithm for implementing a vehicle navigation mode;    a speed measuring unit for providing a speed of the navigation device; and    a navigation algorithm controller for switching the navigation mode between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode according to whether the speed of the navigation device is greater than a predetermined speed threshold.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the speed measuring unit is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving a GPS signal and providing a GPS speed.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined speed threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined speed threshold is set less than a statistical value.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a personal navigation algorithm for implementing a personal navigation mode;    a vehicle navigation algorithm for implementing a vehicle navigation mode;    a step detecting unit for detecting a step according to movement of the navigation device; and    a navigation algorithm controller for switching the navigation mode between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode according to whether a step is detected by the step detecting unit.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the step detecting unit comprises an accelerometer for measuring an acceleration according to movement of the navigation device and outputting the measured acceleration and detects a step using the measured acceleration.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the step detecting unit detects a step using a zero-crossing method.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein if a step is detected, the navigation algorithm controller determines whether the number of detected steps is greater than a predetermined step detected number and switches the navigation mode to the personal navigation mode if the number of detected steps is greater than the predetermined step detected number threshold.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined step detected number threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined step detected number threshold is set greater than a statistical value.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a personal navigation algorithm for implementing a personal navigation mode;    a vehicle navigation algorithm for implementing a vehicle navigation mode;    an external device interface for connecting the navigation device and an external device;    a speed measuring unit for providing a speed of the navigation device;    a step detecting unit for detecting a step according to movement of the navigation device; and    a navigation algorithm controller for switching the navigation mode between the vehicle navigation mode and the personal navigation mode according to whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder through the external device interface, whether the speed of the navigation device is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, and whether a step is detected by the step detecting unit.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the navigation algorithm controller determines whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder by checking if a button of the navigation device for sensing mounting of the navigation device is depressed.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the navigation algorithm controller determines whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder by checking if a message indicating mounting of the navigation device is received from the navigation device holder.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the speed measuring unit is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving a GPS signal and providing a GPS speed.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined speed threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined speed threshold is set less than a statistical value.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the step detecting unit comprises an accelerometer for measuring an acceleration according to movement of the navigation device and outputting the measured acceleration and detects a step using the measured acceleration.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the step detecting unit detects a step using a zero-crossing method.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein if a step is detected, the navigation algorithm controller determines whether the number of detected steps is greater than a predetermined step detected number and switches the navigation mode to the personal navigation mode if the number of detected steps is greater than the predetermined step detected number threshold.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the predetermined step detected number threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined step detected number threshold is set greater than a statistical value.  
     
     
         29 . A method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 executing a navigation program upon request from a user and determining whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder; and    switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder and switching the navigation mode to the personal navigation mode if the navigation device is not mounted in the navigation device holder.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of determining whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder comprises 
 checking if a button of the navigation device for sensing mounting of the navigation device is depressed; and    determining that the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder if the button is pressed and determining that the navigation device is not mounted in the navigation device holder if the button is not depressed.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of determining whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder comprises 
 checking if a message indicating mounting of the navigation device is received from the navigation device holder; and    determining that the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder if the message is received and determining that the navigation device is not mounted in the navigation device holder if the message is not received.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         33 . A method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 executing a navigation program upon request from a user and acquiring a speed of the navigation device;    switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if the speed of the navigation device is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and switching the navigation mode into the personal navigation mode if the speed of the navigation device is less than a predetermined speed threshold.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the predetermined speed threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined speed threshold is set less than a statistical value.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         37 . A method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 executing a navigation program upon request from a user and acquiring a measured acceleration of the navigation device;    recognizing a step pattern using the measured acceleration;    determining whether a step is detected according to the recognition result; and    switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if a step is not detected and switching the navigation mode into the personal navigation mode if a step is detected.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein a step is detected using a zero-crossing method.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising determining whether the number of detected steps is greater than a predetermined step detected number if a step is detected; and 
 switching the navigation mode to the personal navigation mode if the number of detected steps is greater than the predetermined step detected number threshold.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the predetermined step detected number threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined step detected number threshold is set greater than a statistical value.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the vehicle is a car.  
     
     
         43 . A method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a personal navigation mode in a navigation device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 executing a navigation program upon request from a user and determining whether the navigation device is mounted in a navigation device holder; switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder and acquiring a speed of the navigation device if the navigation device is not mounted in the navigation device holder;    switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if the speed of the navigation device is greater than a predetermined speed threshold and acquiring a measured acceleration of the navigation device if the speed of the navigation device is less than a predetermined speed threshold; and    determining whether a step is detected according to the recognition result, switching the navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode if a step is not detected, and switching the navigation mode into the personal navigation mode if a step is detected.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the step of determining whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder comprises 
 checking if a button of the navigation device for sensing mounting of the navigation device is pressed; and    determining that the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder if the button is pressed and determining that the navigation device is not mounted in the navigation device holder if the button is not depressed.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the step of determining whether the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder comprises: 
 checking if a message indicating mounting of the navigation device is received from the navigation device holder; and    determining that the navigation device is mounted in the navigation device holder if the message is received and determining that the navigation device is not mounted in the navigation device holder if the message is not received.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the predetermined speed threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined speed threshold is set less than a statistical value.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising 
 determining whether the number of detected steps is greater than a predetermined step detected number if a step is detected; and    switching the navigation mode to the personal navigation mode if the number of detected steps is greater than the predetermined step detected number threshold.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the predetermined step detected number threshold is statistically determined according to experimental results.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein if the navigation device is on a road way, the predetermined step detected number threshold is set greater than a statistical value.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a step is detected using a zero-crossing method.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the vehicle is a car.